For another hour, my feet padded softly along the cool stone, every once in a while my Converses would step in a puddle of what I hoped was water. I didn't stop long enough to look and find out. Zeus only knew what that was. And, actually, no, he probably didn't since the other gods can't travel to one another's domains. But what about Hecate's magic thing? Hmm...I'd have to ask Annabeth when--slosh!
"Oh, gods," I muttered. I cringed, lifting my foot to see what I'd so misfortunately placed my shoe in.
The sole of my Converse shined a bright scarlet in the flame of my makeshift torch. "Holy Hades...." Blood. A small puddle of blood that made my heart stop beating. All monsters were reduced to dust in Tartarus, just as they were in the mortal world, or, at last the Hydra had for us. Speaking of us, or, rather, thinking of it, made me wonder with crossed fingers how Thalia as doing. Was she okay? Of course she would be with Annabeth, right?
The reflection of the pool of crimson was what brought me back to the physical world. It seemed to burn a dark spot in my sight like the sun does when you stare straight into it.
Only a demigod could leave behind blood like that, and I only knew of one demigod who had the bad enough luck to fall into this hellhole as well.
The edges of the pool we beginning to dry, leaving behind red crusts on the rough stone. I lifted my homemade torch into the air, searching for more monster-drawing blood. I found another smear not too far away along with a shred of cloth that was stiff with dried gore.
The fear was dizzying. He had to be close; so close I could almost see him. He couldn't have traveled far in such a condition. I got down on my hands and knees and investigated in shadowy corners.
My fingers groped something that was cold to the touch and very much human. I nearly screamed from the unexpected fright; I had to bite my lips shut to keep the sound contained. I couldn't breath as I gripped my torch tightly to stop my had from shaking and dropping it. I was beginning to get light-headed from lack of oxygen.
His face, his angelic, pale face, lit with orange light from the flames of my sheath (which, by now, was really starting to get hot) was coated in dried blood and raw, red skin that made my arms crawl with gooseflesh. I finally gasped for breath, but the cold air of Tartaus seemed oxygen less.
I couldn't treat his juries with only one hand, and I couldn't set my torch down without it burning out. Wait a second...didn't Dio's celestial bronze blades glow in the dark? I sure hoped I was right as I set my torch on the stone where it promptly sputtered and went out.
The sword glowed dimly on the ground, but it was enough light to work by. I prayed to the gods that nothing would jump out from the dark. Please, I thought, let him be alive.
The first thing I did was feel for a pulse. I couldn't feel one. I held his hand tightly in mine, and heard a menacing scratching noise that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and my body shudder. The sound was like that of fingernails scraping along a chalk board. I gulped and tried to keep my breathing quiet. I couldn't run for help, not while whatever that creature was was around, not that I could try if I wanted to; it was an hour long walk back to Annabeth and Thalia. Plus, Annabeth probably had her hands full with Thalia.
I tried to find a beat in his neck, and thank the gods, I felt a subdued, dull thrumming under my fingers. He was alive. But for how much longer?
The scouring noise was growing louder. I picked Dio up from the ground gently. This was ridiculous. How could so many monsters appear so suddenly? Ugh. Tartarus was killing me. It seemed like days ago that we'd left camp, not mearly hours. I was so tired every part of my body ached. I glanced at Nico's inert face with worry. How was I supposed to defend both of us?
